SWAT team composition and effectiveness

by Putney, Deanna Marie.

Abstract (Summary)

A field study examined team effectiveness in relation to group composition in
thirty-four (34) Specialized Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) Teams. Data collection during
a five-day, work-focused, SWAT team competition and included judges’ ratings of team
performance, a questionnaire among team members and leaders to assess individual
personality traits conscientiousness and agreeableness, and perceptions of team
performance, norms, and conflict. Hypotheses derived from current research and theory.
Results showed that the team maximum conscientiousness score correlated positively
with member-rated team performance, as predicted. Team average and minimum
conscientiousness correlated with leader-rated team viability; whereas, only the maximum
conscientiousness team score correlated positively with Team average, minimum,
maximum, and variance on agreeableness scores correlated negatively with leader rated
team viability; however, the average, minimum, and maximum agreeableness scores
correlated positively with team performance. None of the team composition variables
significantly correlated with the criterion of judges’ ratings. Intra-group task and
relationship conflict mediated the agreeableness-performance relationship. SWAT teams
with high levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness reported higher levels of team
performance, but did not receive higher performance ratings from judges.
Recommendations for future research are provided.
iv